Valve or drain plug



Jan. 21, 1936. J. H. WILLIAMS 2,028,177

' VALVE OR DRAIN PLUG Filed Oct. 28, 1933 Jazneflfloward Iii/Elam rare y Inventor Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE OR DRAIN PLUG Application October 28, 1933, Serial No. 695,618

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved valve or drain plug. More especially it has to do with a device adapted to be connected to the ordinary drain hole of a container for liquids such as oil, water, molasses, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, rugged device which can readily be inserted in such a drain hole (or in a suitable adapter previously inserted in thehole) and act normally to retain the liquid in the container like the customary plug. A further object is the provision of a simple valve in the device which can easily be opened or closed by a person standing nearby.

The preferred form in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention is Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the device closed;

Figure 6 is a like view of the device open;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the device showing how a removable hand rod may engage it; and

Figure 8 is a vertical section as on line 88 of Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the device has an externally threaded hollow stem l8 adapted to be screwed into the drain hole of a container. This stem can be made in various sizes or, if a limited number of sizes are preferred for purpose of standardized manufacture, an adapter (not shown) can readily be provided to fit into the drain hole and in turn receive the stem of the device.

Associated with the stem is a plate member 12 having on opposite sides depending side flanges !4 (see Figure 8) with a turned-in lip l6 along the bottom edges thereof to form opposed guideways IB. The latter receive the edges 20 of another plate member 22, hereinafter called the slide, which has a depending socket 24 with an inturned flange 26 at the bottom. Resting on this flange is a coiled spring 28 which presses upward against an out-turned flange 30 on a cupshaped member 32 designated the cage. A ball 34 nests in this cage so that a portion of its spherical surface is above the top edge of the cage.

In assembling the device the spring is dropped into the socket of the slide, the cage is inserted within the spring with its flange engaging the top coil thereof, and'the ball is placed in the hollow of the cage. The edges 20 of the slide are then pushed into the guideways l8 of the stem plate. When the upstanding surface of the ball reaches the plate IE it slides thereunder and in so doing depresses the cage as the spring yields. The base of the cage projects through a hole 26a in the bottom of the slide as seen in Figures 4 and 8. As the latter continues to move along the guideways the ball rolls or slides on the undersurface of plate [2 until the lower end of a drain hole 36 through the stem and plate is reached. There the ball is snapped into the hole by the force of spring 28 and comes to rest on the edge of the hole making a tight seat therewith. Preferably the bottom edge of the hole is slightly beveled as 36a, best shown in Figures 4. and 8. The device is now closed against drainage through the hole, the parts being in the positions shown in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 7.

When it is desired to open the device, the slide is pulled or pushed in the reverse direction. This. may be done by grasping the depending socket 24 in the hand or a rod 38 may be used. As shown in Figure 7, such a rod may have a looped end 40 large enough to slip by one or more lugs 42 provided on the bottom edge of the socket. These aid in holding the looped end on the barrel of the socket while the slide is being moved. Of course, apermanently attached rod could be employed if desired. As the slide begins to move, the ball is depressed, the spring 36 yielding and the cage again projecting through the hole 28a. The slide continues to move until the drain hole is fully exposed as best seen in Figure 6. To prevent the slide from being entirely separated from the stem plate, extended side arms it are provided with a cotter pin 46 so disposed that its ends engage the ends of the guideways on the body.

After the container has been drained sufficiently, the hook is again applied to the socket and the slide is moved in the opposite direction to permit the ball to snap back into its seat around the edge of the drain hole. To avoid any undue movement in this direction the slide is provided with ears 48 which engage the guides ends in like manner as does the removable cotter pin.

The device is simple to manufacture, being made largely of castings, is easy to install and is readily opened or closed. When opened, the valve parts are entirely clear of the orifice and the liquid can fall straight through possibly necking in a little at the bottom of the hole and thus hardly touching thevalve seat. Since the latter is depending, no dirt or other foreign mat ter will come to rest thereon. And when the slide is moved to closed position, the ball automatically finds its seat, being self-centering.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising" a stem adapted to be connected with a drain hole of a container and having a passageway therethrough; a plate member associated with saidstem having parallel depending guideways along opposite edges; a slide member movable along said guideways transversely to the axis of said passageway, having a depending socket with an inturned flange and outturned lugs at the bottom; a cup member arranged in said socket and having an outturned flange at its upper end; a spring coiled around said cup member and engaging the said flanges and tending to move the cup member toward the plate member; and a ball seated in said cup member and arranged to be seated on the edge of the passageway to close the same; the said spring yielding to permit the ball to be withdrawn from the passageway and move along said plate member as the slide member movesalong said guideways; and means for moving said slide member comprising a rod having a hooked end adapted to slip by said outturned lugs and engage the depending socket of the slide; the said lugs preventing downward dislodgment of the rod from the slide during the moving thereof.

JAMES HOWARD WILLIAMS. 

